Ouch, what a bad luck acciDent! I'd encourage you to do the buyback if they total it. That's the flipside of our low valuations, quick to total out, and super-cheap to buy back. I'd put the old wheels/tires back on just in case, but negotiate down to $2500 or less. The last fixable-looking auction car I saw went for $1800. Our i-MiEV replaced a 1992 Civic that was twice-totalled and twice bought back, and I got more money from insurance the second time than the first time five years earlier, knowing the game better!